Politics
Senator Slams Low Bail in Cincinnati Street Fight
Clear Facts
- Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno discussed a Cincinnati street fight where a victim had to call an Uber to get home after being attacked.
- The incident involved multiple people and resulted in five arrests, with more charges anticipated.
- One suspect, Montianez Merriweather, was released on a low bail despite previous offenses, sparking criticism from Moreno.
Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno recently shed light on a disturbing incident that unfolded in Cincinnati. The street brawl, which went viral online, took place at Elm and Fourth streets, leaving multiple individuals attacked and injured. Moreno recounted the harrowing experience of one victim, Holly, who found herself in a precarious situation after the altercation.
Moreno emphasized that Holly was not involved in the fight but was merely trying to enjoy a night out with friends in downtown Cincinnati.
“Yeah, just to be clear, Holly had nothing to do with any of the altercation. Her crime was wanting to go to downtown Cincinnati and have an evening with some friends. She tried to stop the fight, and she got brutally attacked. I actually call it attempted murder,” Moreno stated.
Adding to the ordeal, Holly had to arrange her own transportation home, as Moreno pointed out, “By the way, when the one police officer did show up, because we’re 200 police officers short in Cincinnati, she was taken home in an Uber that she had to call. She wasn’t taking an ambulance. Nobody took her to the hospital.”
The aftermath of the attack has been traumatic for Holly, who has been in and out of the hospital multiple times. Moreno shared her ongoing fears, saying, “She’s now been in and out of the hospital three times. I’ve talked to her every day. She’s frightened to death.”
The incident drew attention from Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, who announced that five individuals were charged in connection with the fight. The video footage showed a chaotic scene, beginning with four men and later involving a woman being punched and left unconscious in the street.
Moreno also highlighted the judicial response to the incident, expressing frustration over the release of one of the suspects, Montianez Merriweather, on a low bail.
“The reality is it’s even worse because there’s another detail missing. There’s a judge, Judge Hathaway,” Moreno explained. “They got the guy in custody, as you said. He was released, even though he was in [for] a previous gun offense. Get this, a $400 bail. This guy’s on the streets of Cincinnati today after almost murdering Holly on a $400 bail.”
Moreno criticized the current system, stating, “That’s how despicable and how rotten our problem is there. But we’re going to fix it. I’ve said to the city that they have 30 days to put together a plan or we’re going to cut federal funding off.”
The arrests included Montianez Merriweather, Dekyra Vernon, and Jermaine Matthews, with Merriweather’s past offenses raising concerns about his release conditions. Despite his criminal history, Merriweather was initially released on a $4,000 bond for charges unrelated to the brawl, needing only $400 to secure his freedom.
In response to the Cincinnati incident, Merriweather’s bond was significantly increased to $500,000, while Vernon and Matthews faced bonds of $200,000 and $100,000, respectively.
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